01st-02nd August, 2023

1. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) has collaborated with Arm, the world’s leading semiconductor IP company during the Semicon India event in Gandhinagar.
2. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a chatbot in India called ‘Just Ask!’ – an Artificial Intelligence (AI) digital engagement platform for adolescents and young adults, aimed to help them learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
3. External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar held the 15th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with H.E. Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in New Delhi.
4. Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardip Singh Puri informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 51 lakh houses have been completed out of which 71.39 lakh have been occupied till now under the Prime Ministers’ Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).
5. G20 EMPOWER Summit 2023 was organized in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
6. Parliament has passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
7. Central Government had introduced the “Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023” in the Lok Sabha to include four communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jammu and Kashmir, which are “Gadda Brahmin”, “Koli”, “Paddari Tribe”, and “Pahari Ethnic Group”.
8. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has launched Jharkhand Elephant Tracker to reduce fatalities in the human-animal conflicts by tracking the movement of the elephants.
9. For the first time, China and UAE will conduct “Falcon Shield” air defence exercise in China’s Xinjiang province.
10. Power Finance Corporation has become first member from India to join “Asia Transition Finance Study Group” (ATFSG) on the side lines of G20 summit at Goa.
11. Mumbai-based Fino Payments Bank approved the proposal for the transition of the bank into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) license.
12. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a mini-ratna CPSE PSU refinery based in Karnataka and a subsidiary of ONGC, has become the single largest PSU-Refinery (single location) in India for the year 2022-23.
13. LIC Mutual Fund has completed the takeover of IDBI Mutual Fund and merged schemes with effect from July 29.
14. Karnataka Bank hosted the first edition of KBL – FinOne, a fintech growth program in Bengaluru.
15. Paytm has launched two innovative payment devices that are 4G enabled — Paytm Pocket Soundbox and Paytm Music Soundbox.
16. Seven products from across India, including four from Rajasthan, were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.
17. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune, Maharashtra.
18. July 28 – Plastic Overshoot Day
19. July 30 – World Day against Trafficking in Persons; Theme – Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind
20. July 31 to August 5 – Aviation Security Culture Week; Theme – See it, Say it, Secure it
21. July 31 – World Ranger Day; Theme– ’30 by 30‘
22. August 1 – World Lung Cancer Day
23. August 1 to 7 – World Breastfeeding Week; Theme – Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!
24. Indian women’s hockey team wins the title of Torneo del Centernario 2023 by defeating hosts Spain (by 3-0 score) in Terrassa, Barcelona.
25. Stuart Broad (former English cricketer) has announced retirement.
26. Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer through headers when he scored the second goal for Al Nassr against US Monastir in a King Salman Club Cup game at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
27. Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has released the women’s ranking for 2023.
28. Chinese shuttler Weng Hongyang has won the men’s singles of Australia Open Super 500 badminton tournament.
29. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 has been won by Spain (defeating England).
30. Ministry of Electronics and IT has signed MoU between the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and Lam Research India (a renowned supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment) during the Semicon India in Gandhinagar.
31. India and Moldova have signed an MOU for cooperation in Agriculture.
32. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) have signed an MoU to establish mechanism of technical and institutional cooperation in telecommunications.
33. New Development Bank (NDB) has elected Thuraiya Alhashmi as a member of its board of directors and a constituency director.
34. Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled the “Memories Never Die” book, which is a tribute to the life and legacy of the late former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
35. “Kargil: Ek Yatri Ki Jubani” book has been authored by Shri Rishi Raj and published by Prabhat Prakashan.
36. Government of India’s premier publishing house Publications Division (under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) has come out a new magazine named Yojana Classics.

National News

1. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) has collaborated with Arm, the world’s leading semiconductor IP company during the Semicon India event in Gandhinagar.
   • They have launched the Arm Flexible Access for Startups to provide Indian semiconductor startups access to Arm’s broad portfolio of verified Arm IP, tools and training.
   • Arm will provide the startups with access to processor and system IPs, reference designs, GPU, ISP, and AI accelerator IPs, and software development tools.
   • Eligibility – Startups selected under the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme will qualify for the Arm Flexible Access for Startups program.
   • IP is not the Intellectual Property here. Instead, Arm has given ‘IP’ name to one of its products. The access to that product will be provided by Arm.
   • The 2nd edition of the Semicon India 2023 event was organized on the theme of ‘Catalysing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem’ at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
   • Organizer of the Conference – India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
   • During the Semicon India 2023, American multinational semiconductor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced it would invest approximately USD 400 million in India over the next five years.

2. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a chatbot in India called ‘Just Ask!’ – an Artificial Intelligence (AI) digital engagement platform for adolescents and young adults, aimed to help them learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
   • Developers – UNFPA, in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM) and the Department of Public Health and Family Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India
   • The project will be partly funded by the international pharmaceutical company Bayer, which recently signed an agreement with UNFPA to contribute $720,000 to India to improve awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights among adolescents and young people.
   • UNFPA and Bayer also participated in a Linkedin dialogue on ‘Digital Innovation and its Impact on Family Planning’ in July 2023 to emphasize the advantage of adopting digital platforms in strengthening health systems in low-and-middle income countries.

3. External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar held the 15th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with H.E. Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in New Delhi.
   • 2023 is being celebrated as the Year of India-Japan Tourism Exchanges with the theme of ‘Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji’.
     Source: MEA

4. Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardip Singh Puri informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 51 lakh houses have been completed out of which 71.39 lakh have been occupied till now under the Prime Ministers’ Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).
   • Uttar Pradesh had the largest number of houses completed at 12,87,307.
     Source: The Hindu

5. G20 EMPOWER Summit 2023 was organized in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
   • This followed on from the Inception Meeting held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on 11th and 12th February 2023 and the 2nd meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 5th and 6th April 2023.
     Source: PIB

6. Parliament has passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
   • The Bill amends the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
   • Features of the bill –
     • It establishes the Co-operative Election Authority to conduct and supervise elections to the boards of multi-state co-operative societies
     • A multi-state co-operative society will require prior permission of government authorities before the redemption of their shareholding.
     • A Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund will be established for the revival of sick multi-state co-operative societies. The Fund will be financed through contributions by profitable multi-state co-operative societies.
     • The Bill allows state co-operative societies to merge into an existing multi-state co-operative society, subject to the respective state laws.
     • As per the Bill, the central government will appoint one or more Co-operative Ombudsman with territorial jurisdiction. The Ombudsman shall complete the process of inquiry and adjudication within 3 months from the receipt of the complaint. Appeals against the directions of the Ombudsman may be filed with the Central Registrar (who is appointed by the central government) within a month.
   • Key issues in the bill –
     • Sick multi-state co-operative societies will be revived by a Fund that will be financed through contributions by profitable multi-state co-operative societies. This effectively imposes a cost on well-functioning societies.
     • Giving the government the power to restrict redemption of its shareholding in multi-state co-operative societies may ensure their control in case of malfunctioning co-operatives, but it may go against the co-operative principles of autonomy and independence.
       • So far, the decision of redemption was taken as per the byelaws of the societies. If the byelaws are silent on the redemption of shares held by these entities, it can be done through a mutually agreed process between the society and the entity.

7. Central Government had introduced the “Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023” in the Lok Sabha to include four communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jammu and Kashmir, which are “Gadda Brahmin”, “Koli”, “Paddari Tribe”, and “Pahari Ethnic Group”.

Source: IE

State News

1. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has launched Jharkhand Elephant Tracker to reduce fatalities in the human-animal conflicts by tracking the movement of the elephants.
   • Need of the app – out of the total of 24 districts, 20 districts have elephants, due to which, on an average, 80 people are killed while over 150 suffer injuries in man-elephant conflict every year in Jharkhand

Source: NIE

International News

1. For the first time, China and UAE will conduct “Falcon Shield” air defence exercise in China’s Xinjiang province.
   Source: Wion

Banking and Economy

1. Power Finance Corporation has become first member from India to join “Asia Transition Finance Study Group” (ATFSG) on the side lines of G20 summit at Goa.
   • ATFSG is an initiative by Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for promoting sustainable transition finance for Asian Countries.
   • Other members and observers of the ATFSG include Japanese banks, major Asian and global financial institutions, development banks, export credit agencies, and government agencies.
   • Asian countries will work together to promote financing for Energy Transition and Net Zero goals.

2. Mumbai-based Fino Payments Bank approved the proposal for the transition of the bank into a Small Finance Bank (SFB) license.

3. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a mini-ratna CPSE PSU refinery based in Karnataka and a subsidiary of ONGC, has become the single largest PSU-Refinery (single location) in India for the year 2022-23.
   • It was set up as a joint venture refinery in 1988.
     Source: MRPL

4. LIC Mutual Fund has completed the takeover of IDBI Mutual Fund and merged schemes with effect from July 29.
   • Out of the 20 schemes of IDBI MF, 10 will be merged with similar schemes of LIC MF and the remaining will be held on a standalone basis, which will take its total scheme count to 38.
     Source: HBL
5. Karnataka Bank hosted the first edition of KBL – FinOne, a fintech growth program in Bengaluru.
   • Purpose – to develop innovative business models, providing seamless banking experience & offering a complete product suite
     Source: KB

6. Paytm has launched two innovative payment devices that are 4G enabled — Paytm Pocket Soundbox and Paytm Music Soundbox.
   • The Paytm Pocket Soundbox (first-of-its-kind portable device) can fit in your pocket and is as small as a debit card and empowers merchants who are always on the move with instant audio payment alerts.
   • Paytm Music Soundbox doubles up as a speaker that issues payment notifications and can also be connected to the phone to play music through Bluetooth.
     Source: Paytm

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Seven products from across India, including four from Rajasthan, were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.
   • Geographical Indications Registry works under the aegis of the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
   • Products –
   • ‘Jalesar Dhatu Shilp’ (a metal craft) from Jalesar in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district
   • ‘Goa Mankurad Mango’ (aka malcorada, cardozo mankurad, corado, and Goa mankur)
   • ‘Goan Bebinca’
   • ‘Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft’
   • ‘Bikaner Kashidakari Craft’
   • ‘Jodhpur Bandhej Craft’, and
   • ‘Bikaner Usta Kala Craft’
     Source: The Hindu

Awards

1. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune, Maharashtra.
   • The Award was constituted by Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983 to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak.
   • The Prime Minister donated the cash prize to the Namami Gange Project.
     Source: PM India

   
   

Important Days

1. July 28 – Plastic Overshoot Day
   • In 2023, the volume of plastic waste will overshoot the volume that waste systems can manage on July 28th.
   • Every country has its own Plastic Overshoot Day. India’s Plastic Overshoot Day was on January 6.

2. July 30 – World Day against Trafficking in Persons; Theme – Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind

3. July 31 to August 5 – Aviation Security Culture Week; Theme – See it, Say it, Secure it
   • Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, celebrated this day for the first time.
   • Director-General, BCAS – Shri Zulfiquar Hasan
     Source: PIB

4. July 31 – World Ranger Day; Theme– ’30 by 30‘
   • The theme is based on the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), where a Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed upon by world leaders and decision-makers. Target 3 of the framework outlined a requirement that at least 30% of the planet is effectively conserved and managed by 2030 (’30 by 30’).
   • Who is a ranger? – A keeper of a park, forest, or area of countryside. Their work includes protection, conservation, monitoring, visitor services, fire management, law enforcement, education, community support, and regulation of sustainable use.

5. August 1 – World Lung Cancer Day
   Source: BS
6. August 1 to 7 – World Breastfeeding Week; Theme – Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!

Source: WHO and Innocenti

Sports

1. Indian women’s hockey team wins the title of Torneo del Centernario 2023 by defeating hosts Spain (by 3-0 score) in Terrassa, Barcelona.
   • It was the 100th Anniversary of the Spanish Hockey Federation International Tournament 2023.
   • Next, Indian women’s hockey team will participate in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8.

2. Stuart Broad (former English cricketer) has announced retirement.
   Source: IT
3. Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer through headers when he scored the second goal for Al Nassr against US Monastir in a King Salman Club Cup game at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
   Source: Sportstar
4. Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has released the women’s ranking for 2023.
   • Top – Iga Swiatek (rank 1)
     Source: WTA

   
   
   
   
5. Chinese shuttler Weng Hongyang has won the men’s singles of Australia Open Super 500 badminton tournament.
   • India’s ace shuttler H.S. Prannoy was the opponent of Hongyang.
   • Beiwen Zhang (from US) won the women’s singles.
     Source: IE and Hindu

   
   
6. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 has been won by Spain (defeating England).
   • The world cup was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
     Source: FIFA

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Ministry of Electronics and IT has signed MoU between the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and Lam Research India (a renowned supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment) during the Semicon India in Gandhinagar.
   • Purpose – to jointly develop a customised course offering for Indian universities, dedicated to teaching semiconductor fabrication technology.
   • This will utilise Lam Research’s cutting-edge Semiverse Solutions virtual fabrication software, SEMulator3D.
     Source: PIB
2. India and Moldova have signed an MOU for cooperation in Agriculture.
   Source: PIB
3. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) have signed an MoU to establish mechanism of technical and institutional cooperation in telecommunications.
   • Trai Centre of Studies and Research (Trai CSR) was established as an entity within Trai with a mandate to conceptualise, coordinate, and enable technological studies in the telecom and broadcasting sectors.
   • The partnership aims to promote cooperation for research on regulatory practices and bridge gaps in our understanding.
     Source: BS

Appointments

1. New Development Bank (NDB) has elected Thuraiya Alhashmi as a member of its board of directors and a constituency director.
   • Alhashmi is the director of the international financial relations and organisations department at the UAE Ministry of Finance.
   • In March 2023, Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was elected as the head of the New Development Bank (NDB).
     Source: National News and HT

Miscellaneous

1. Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled the “Memories Never Die” book, which is a tribute to the life and legacy of the late former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
   • Authors – Dr. APJM Nasima Maraikayar and scientist Dr. Y. S. Rajan.
   • This book was orginally written in Tamil as ‘Ninaivugalukku Maranamillai’.
     Source:NoA

   
   
   
   
2. “Kargil: Ek Yatri Ki Jubani” book has been authored by Shri Rishi Raj and published by Prabhat Prakashan.
   Source: ANI
3. Government of India’s premier publishing house Publications Division (under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) has come out a new magazine named Yojana Classics.
   • It is a collectible series on various thematic areas, crafted from select works published since 1957 in Yojana, the popular development monthly published by Publications Division.
   • The book will be available soon at Publications Division Book Gallery, Soochna Bhawan and website www.publicationsdivision.nic.in.
   • The book was unveiled during the 27th edition of the Delhi Book Fair, which is being organized by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) in association with Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 29th July to 2nd August 2023.
   • Other popular and widely circulated journals of Publications Division are Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal and Bal Bharti.
     Source: PIB

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